NURSING Chapter Notes -Prostaglandin, Fetal Position, Relaxin
Document Summary
Nursing care of a family during labor and birth. Labor series of events by which uterine contractions and abdominal pressure expel a fetus and placenta from a woman"s body. Dilatation enlargement or widening of the cervical canal. Fetal membrane production of prostaglandin initiate contraction. Fetal descend changes a woman"s abdominal contour. Positions the uterus lower and more anterior in the abdomen. Prepares a woman"s body for the work of labor ahead. Slight loss of weight progesterone = body fluid is excreted more easily: 1-3 pound loss. May experience this in the last week or days before labor begins. Internal sign seen only on pelvic examination: goodell"s sign: throughout pregnancy, the cervix feels softer than normal to. Internal announcement that labor is very close at hand palpation. At term, the cervix becomes still softer ( butter-coft ) Signs of true labor involve uterine and cervical changes. Labor watch: vs every 2 or 4 hours, fht, monitor the contractions.
